Chi-Med Enters into Multiple Collaborations to Evaluate Combinations of Surufatinib and Fruquintinib with PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitors

Hutchison China MediTech (AIM/Nasdaq: HCM) entered into four collaboration agreements to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Chi-Med’s surufatinib (HMPL-012 or sulfatinib) and fruquintinib in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.

As quoted in the press release:

It is an important part of Chi-Med’s strategy to explore the potential synergies of its drug candidates in combination with other anti-cancer treatments. These four new immunotherapy collaborations add to our ongoing studies combining savolitinib, Chi-Med’s highly selective c-Met inhibitor, with AstraZeneca PLC’s checkpoint inhibitor, durvalumab (Imfinzi^®).

“Recent innovations in solid tumor drugs have focused on targeted therapies and immunotherapies which, as monotherapies, have both provided improved patients outcomes,” said Christian Hogg, Chief Executive Officer of Chi-Med. “We believe that the future of oncology treatments increasingly lies in combining therapies, utilizing multiple mechanisms of action (“MOA”) to confront tumors. Our unique next-generation anti-angiogenesis VEGFR inhibitors, with high selectivity and tolerability, make them ideal candidates for such combinations with immunotherapy agents such as PD-1/L1 monoclonal antibodies to prolong and expand the benefits of these therapies to more patients.”

Click here to read the full press release.